Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 17 April 2013
199. Deputy Sean Fleming asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if prisoners who have served their full sentences will be issued with a certificate of imprisonment upon release as a matter of course which will be helpful to them to obtain rental supplement or accommodation rather than having to apply for this on an individual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17909/13]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Irish Prison Service facilitates requests for certificates of imprisonment received from Government Departments and/or from individuals who require such certificates in order to avail of services such as, social housing, social welfare payments, work visas, etc. The Department of Social Protection's Homeless Persons Unit, in partnership with the Irish Prison Service and the Probation Service, provides a weekly welfare in-reach clinic in 12 of our 14 prisons.
All inmates have access to this service on request. Prisoners can meet the Homeless Persons Unit in-reach officer and discuss all elements of support available to them from the Department of Social Protection on release, including social welfare benefits, medical card applications and housing assistance. Many inmates will have more than one interaction with the Homeless Persons Unit in-reach service in preparation for their return to the community. The Homeless Persons Unit in-reach service will often assist the inmate to complete the necessary documentation to access benefits on release prior to their actual release date. In 2012, the Homeless Persons Unit in-reach team dealt with in excess of 2,500 unique clients across the prison estate, these clients accounted for more than 7,000 interactions. Focus Ireland provides a similar in-reach service with regard to housing assistance to inmates in Cork and Limerick Prisons.
